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HD 1676

An Act to remove medical and health service fees for incarcerated people

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Jay Livingstone and 1 co-sponsor

Massachusetts bill would eliminate medical and healthcare service fees for incarcerated people, improving healthcare access but requiring state budget reallocation.

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Bill Summary · HD 1676

Legislative bill overview

HD 1676 would eliminate all medical and health service fees that incarcerated people currently pay while in Massachusetts correctional facilities. Currently, incarcerated individuals are charged co-payments and fees for medical visits, medications, and other healthcare services. The bill would make these services free to all people in custody.

Why is this important

Incarcerated people typically have limited or no income, making medical fees a significant barrier to accessing necessary healthcare. This directly affects public health outcomes, as untreated conditions can spread within facilities and worsen upon reentry. The policy also raises equity questions about whether indigent populations should be charged for basic healthcare.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost to state budget: Eliminating fee revenue requires identifying funding elsewhere in corrections or health budgets, which may face fiscal scrutiny
  • Work incentive concerns: Some argue medical fees create incentives for incarcerated people to participate in work programs; opponents counter this amounts to coercive labor
  • Comparable standards: Critics may question whether free medical care in facilities should align with what free/low-income people receive outside prisons, or whether it creates unequal access

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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